Dai Olga Alekseyevna (photo), former professor at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), gave her presentation titled “Life of Goryeoin in Russia” in a calm voice. She was born in Kazakhstan as a second-generation Goryeoin. Her parents never lost hope, even in that barren land. They worked hard and with determination to raise their three sons and three daughters, supporting them all the way through college education. At home the parents taught their children Korean history and Korean language so that the children did not forget their fatherland. At the end of her testimony, Alekseyevna said, “In the early 1990s I moved back to Maritime Territory with my family. During my most difficult times, the missionaries from Korea helped us. Thanks to them, we Goryeoin learned about God and continue to strive here.”
On August 14 (local time), the Institute of Korean Theological Information Network Service (IKTINOS, director: Prof. Kim Jeong-wu of Chongshin University) held a forum on “Encounter of Korean History and the Bible as Seen from Vladivostok” at Solnechny Culture Center in Vladivostok, Russia, to hear testimonies from Goryeoin. IKTINOS planned this forum to highlight the history of Korean liberation, on National Liberation Day in this 70th anniversary year of national liberation and division. Three professors from Korea made presentations.
Prof. Yang Jae-hun of Hyupsung University spoke on “The History of Suffering of Migrant Koreans in Russia.” Koreans began migrating to Russia in 1863, in their search for food and a better living. Later, from 1905-1910, independence movement activists came here for their anti-Japanese movement. Koreans were able to survive in the barren land thanks to their rice-farming technology, and they were welcomed by the local people. In August 1937, however, the USSR decided to force all Koreans to move to Central Asia. Prof. Yang said, “In 1937, among the entire population of Maritime Territory, Koreans numbered 170,000, which made the USSR feel threatened… just as Egypt in the Bible was afraid of the growing number of Israelites. The USSR accused Koreans falsely of spying for Japan, in order to segregate them in Central Asia.” He added, “Fortunately Goryeoins’ reputation in Russia was restored when Korea held the Olympic Games in 1988. Later, in 1993, the Law on Restoration of Korean Russians’ Reputation was legislated.
Prof. Wang Dae-il of Methodist Theological University, presenting his paper “Liberation and Expulsion, an Old Testament Theological Inquiry,” said, “God’s providence is found also in the history of Israel, where people are expelled to an unknown land and undergo suffering… God turns the suffering of God’s people into good results. The writing of the Scriptures and other great achievements were made during the time when the Israelites were the diaspora.”
Prof. Wang also made a proposal to the Korean church. “The Korean church needs to encourage and help Goryeoin to take on a role for Shalom and to bring about God’s Kingdom… Let us embrace them as we search for our shared direction and vision of life.”
Prof. Park Hyeong-dae of Chongshin University illuminated the same theme from the perspective of the New Testament. In his presentation “Expulsion and Liberation in the New Testament,” he said, “Liberation was given to all peoples because Jesus Christ died on the Cross bearing all humans’ pains... Christians who are liberated thanks to Jesus should live a life like Jesus, bearing their Cross for others’ liberation and salvation.” Prof. Park said, “Goryeoin went through great hardships, but as a result of their forced migration, rice farming and other beneficial skills were transported to Central Asia.” He emphasized, “The lives of people in all the diasporas including Goryeoin, Korean Chinese, and North Korean defectors residing in South Korea, are worthy subjects of research and deserve fair evaluation and treatment.”
There were four additional forum presentations on August 17 (local time). Former Korean Bible Society General Secretary Min Young-jin said in his presentation “150 Years of Wandering in Eurasia: Expulsion and Liberation from the Horizon of the Korean Peninsula,” “The overseas Korean diaspora have been invited to spread God’s blessing all around the world… Scattered throughout the world, the Korean diaspora will be leaders taking on ministries. Goryeoin in particular are not an object of mission but a partner. The Korean church needs to carry out active exchanges with the Goryeoin church to survey and study their current situation and other matters.”
IKTINOS Director Kim Jeong-wu made a presentation on the theme “Psalm 137: Willows by the Rivers of Babylon,” in which he emphasized, “It is not fair for Goryeoin to be forced into identifying as Korean… The role of the Korean church is to support and minster to them so that they harmonize and live well in their local communities.”
Prof. Lee Young-mi of Hanshin University said in her presentation “War, Sexual Violence Victims and Their Expulsion Experience, and Memories for Liberation,” “What brought the issue of the Japanese military’s sex slavery system up to the surface was Korea Church Women United (KCWU)’s movement against Japanese prostitution tours to Korea… The Korean church should reflect theologically on our painful history, including Japan’s wartime sex slavery system, so that such history is never repeated, and the victims may follow the path of true liberation.”
In her presentation “Wisdom from Diaspora Women,” Prof. Park Hye-kyung of Chang Jung Christian University, introduced Goryoein painter Shin Sun-nam (1928∼2006), who was chosen as best artist in 1976 by the former USSR Culture Ministry, being called “the Picasso of the East.” Prof. Park said, “Behind painter Shin was the sacrifice and faith of his grandmother, Seok Yun-hui. In his work ‘St. Mary of the Lighthouse in the North,’ Shin depicted Goryeoins’ sorrows and his grandmother’s pure love and wisdom. Just like the capable wife we read about in Proverbs 31, the wise Goryeoin women have cultivated the dry and barren wilderness into fertile soil.”
On this day, the, forum participants adopted a “Vladivostok Statement on the 70th Anniversary of National Liberation,” at Solnechny Culture Center. In the statement, they expressed repentance for forgetting the history of their Goryeoin compatriots’ forced migration. They resolved to let others know about “the God of sympathy and solace, who used our suffering to strengthen us and helped us see everlasting liberation… We’ll work toward our unity, peace, justice and love through Biblical research and education… For this, we’ll stand in solidarity with all diaspora as our partners: 500,000 Goryeoin, 7 million overseas Koreans and foreign diaspora living in Korea. ”
Article and photos by reporter A-young Kim (cello08@kmib.co.kr), from Vladivostok, with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
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Click here for the original article in Korean 2
